Top Ten Tips for Entering the UK EO Awards

Martin Camp, Executive Director at Howden, eoa Trustee member and sponsor of the UK Employee Ownership Awards 2026, shares ten top tips for maximising your entry. 

Image: Martin Camp

1. Make the EO Connection Clear

A lot of time, we assume the benefits of employee ownership are self-evident. They aren’t.

The strongest entries clearly articulate how EO directly influenced performance, culture, engagement or outcomes. Don’t leave judges to make the connection for you. And don’t be afraid to spell it out.

2. Remember: EO is Fundamentally About People

At its heart, employee ownership is about people having a stake and a say.

Use employee voices wherever possible, including quotes from across the business, from leadership to the shop floor, to help bring EO to life. They demonstrate understanding, belief, and genuine engagement far more powerfully than statements alone. 

This is really in nominations for ‘EO Transition of the Year’, where it shows how people feel about the change, with impact data harder to come by so early in the EO journey. 

3. Evidence Always Beats Assertion 

Every strong claim needs supporting evidence. That might be engagement scores, retention figures, survey feedback, productivity improvements, or customer satisfaction data.

Even in the early stages of EO, qualitative evidence can be compelling if it’s well explained and authentic.

4. Success Doesn’t Look the Same for Everyone

Judges aren’t looking for a single definition of success.

If you’re outperforming your sector, bucking regional trends, or achieving results that matter specifically to your business, say so – and explain why that matters. What’s ordinary to you may be exceptional in context.

5. Show How EO Strengthens Business Performance

For categories such as ‘Employee Owned Business of the Year’, financial performance matters, but scale doesn’t.

What judges are looking for is momentum, direction, and clarity on how employee ownership is contributing to sustainable success, whether through growth, resilience, innovation, or efficiency.

6. Don’t Forget Your Wider Stakeholders

The most persuasive entries look beyond internal benefits. So, how has EO improved outcomes for customers, suppliers or communities? 

Testimonials, service improvements, or reputational gains all help demonstrate EO as a force for good.

7. Go Back to Why You Became EO

Some of the strongest submissions start at the beginning.

Whether your motivation was preserving values, securing jobs, supporting succession, or protecting a founder’s legacy, revisiting that purpose provides a powerful narrative framework for your entry.

8. Celebrate Leadership at Every Level

One of the most moving categories is always ‘Employee Owner of the Year’.

Often, the most compelling champions are those who promote ownership values through action, enthusiasm and influence rather than authority.

9. Be Honest About Where You are on the Journey

10. Tell Your Story with Pride